United complete move for Fellaini

Marouane Fellaini has completed his transfer to Manchester United as David Moyes has signed the midfielder for a second time, Everton have confirmed.

He brought his five-year spell at Everton to an end by telling them he wanted to leave and became Moyes' first major signing for United right at the end of the transfer window.

United end with a farce

Defeat at Anfield had spurred Manchester United's boardroom into action. As Monday drew to a close, the club were close to spending £60 million - £32m to meet the release clause for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera, and the rest for Everton's Marouane Fellaini. Then, the deal with Herrera fell through because of an elementary misunderstanding about Spanish tax. Manchester United, England's most successful club, are suddenly a laughing stock.

Fellaini has cost £27.5 million - almost double the £16m United valued him at when submitting a joint, £28m bid for the midfielder and left-back Leighton Baines last month.

It was £4m also more than the £23.5m release clause Fellaini had at Goodison Park, which expired at the end of July and which United had opted not to activate.

The Belgian forced through the move by submitting a transfer request at Everton's Finch Farm training ground on Monday evening.

His arrival follows a summer-long search for a central midfielder from Moyes, who failed in attempts to recruit Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona and Daniele de Rossi from Roma, and who suffered disappointment as a move for Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrara collapsed.

Everton allowed Fellaini to leave as they brought in Wigan's James McCarthy, on a £12.5m deal, and Manchester City's Gareth Barry, on a season-long loan, as replacements.

Fellaini remains Everton's club record signing and cost £15m when he joined from Standard Liege in 2008.

He went on to score 33 goals in 177 games for the Merseysiders and appeared in all four of their fixtures this season.

He and Baines were praised for their attitude and performances over recent weeks by new Everton manager Roberto Martinez before Fellaini said he wanted to end his time at Everton.

However, Everton succeeded in keeping England international Baines at Goodison Park after reportedly rejecting a £15m bid from United on the final day of the transfer window.

Moyes' only previous signing for United was Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela.